Curated OER
Applying Ahimsa to Traditional Stories
Investigate the life of Mahatma Gandhi by researching non-violent lifestyles. Learners define the word ahimsa and discuss the personal characteristics that made Gandhi a peaceful warrior. They also create a poster about the story "The...
Curated OER
In Search of Self: Adolescent Themes in the Twentieth Century Short Story
Students read short stories that are related to adolescent issues and behaviors. In groups, they review the elements of a short story and vocabulary they might need while reading. To end the lesson, they read "Sir Tatton Sykes"...
Curated OER
Retell the "Tail" of the Tale
Learners explore story structure. For this multicultural literacy lesson, students discuss common elements of folk tales and then listen to the story Tiger and the Big Wind: A Tale from Africa. Learners identify the problem and solution...
Curated OER
A Better Class of Journal-ists
Young academics create a current events journal by skimming newspapers for articles that fit defined guidelines for informational texts. After cutting out two articles each week to add to their journals, they write a brief description of...
Marybeth Lobiecki
Beyond Baseball with Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was more than a baseball star, he was a prominent activist. The thought-provoking resource focuses on the life and achievements of Jackie Robinson, from his baseball career to his civic participation. Academics listen and...
Curated OER
Cultural Exchange (Alaska)
Students explore the culture of Alaska. They identify the geographic location of Tlingit Indians. Students compare/contrast the culture of the Europeans and Tlingits. Students complete selected reading worksheets and provide alternative...
Curated OER
The House on Mango Street
Students read The House on Mango Street and analyze why the author chose to tell this story and how the characters are affected by immigration, poverty, and discrimination. Students compare this story to others about immigration to...
Curated OER
Getting Ready to Become An Adult
Students participate in a problem solving activity and discuss how effective their solution was. In this getting ready to become an adult lesson, students read Ta-ne-e-ka and use guiding questions to address the relationships in...
Curated OER
Backwards Day
Students create ways to do things backwards. For this cross-curriculum lesson, students participate in various backwards activities for an entire day. Students recite the alphabet backwards, spell their names backwards, and read stories...
Curated OER
Transparent Shoebox Dig
Take this simulated archaeological dig one layer at a time with your young pupils to encourage observation, critical thinking, and careful attention. Using a transparent box full of layers of sand and artifacts, pupils examine the...
Curated OER
Opportunity Cost
Students explore the concept of opportunity cost. Classmates discuss, orally and in writing, a time when they had to make a choice when all choices seemed worthwhile. They explore the impact of making decisions when resources are...
Curated OER
Under the Tongan Sun
Students read the story "Under the Tongan Sun" by Tina Martin. In groups, they use the text of the story to answer comprehension questions. They work together to identify the cultural differences between the United States and Tonga. To...
Curated OER
View: Visual Inquiry/Experience in Writing
Students discuss the importance of having good observational skills. Using artifacts, they discuss what can and cannot be told about previous cultures. They use their observations to write a paper about the culture and use the internet...
Curated OER
All About Trees
Second graders examine the artwork of Robert Harris and discuss how trees are an important part of their lives. In groups, they discover how people's use of the environment has changed over time and describe the climate and vegetation...
Curated OER
Entrepreneur: Anita Roddick
Students discover how entrepreneurs make their living. As a class, they identify the characteristics of entrepreneurships and their attitudes. Using the internet, they research the life of Anita Roddick, who founded the Body Shop. They...
Curated OER
Time-Out
Students watch the Time-Out Shrot, "Martin's Dad's Story" They work in groups to plan a Jerry Springer type of talk show. Students prepare a summary that can be read at the end of their "show" including a summary of what ha happened, the...
Curated OER
The Hazardous Waste Dilemma
Students discuss the characteristics of a hazardous waste site and how they can cause health problems to humans. In groups, they research the various ways to deal with the hazardous materials and read recent articles on the subject. To...
Curated OER
Jewel of the Mississippi Delta
Students develop their own website to show the information they gathered about the Mound Bayou on the Mississippi Delta. After taking a field trip to the area, they create their own coloring books, stories and games to share the history...
Curated OER
Self Discipline: Building Character
There is not a clear purpose for this resource. It seems to be partly an exploration of self-discipline and a discussion of the myth The Dancing Horses of Sybaris. If a class was studying this myth, it could be altered, and corrected in...
Free Library of Philadelphia
Resources for Ghost Boys
Jewell Parker Rhodes, the author of Ghost Boys, wanted to bring the historical legacy of Emmett Till and the current topic of racial prejudice into today's young readers' mindsets. Use a reading guide and set of discussion questions to...
Curated OER
Pirate Map
Students write directions explaining how to get from one location to another by using a map of their town and use simple maps to identify and locate places.
Curated OER
Design of Our Own
Middle schoolers explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning instructional activity, students recognize family, school, and local community leaders who have contributed to the common good. Middle schoolers also study...
Curated OER
Energy Generating a Culture: Early American Coal Miners and Coal Mining Culture
Learners calculate how much coal they use based on their electric power usage. In this environmental science lesson, students trace the history of coal mining in US. They write a letter to USPS to encourage them to create coal mining...
Curated OER
Inventors and Inventions 1
Young scholars research how Velcro and sticky notes were invented. In this research report, students use the Internet to learn about how to common inventions came to be. Young scholars write a report about their findings.